THE HELLO GIRLS - NYC EPA Prospect Theater Company | New York, NY
Notice: Audition Call Type: EPA
Tuesday, February 27, 2024
9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (E)
BREAK: 1:00PM - 2:00PM
LOA
$900 weekly minimum (LOA ref. LORT) + hotel, travel, and meals/per diem
Equity actors for roles in THE HELLO GIRLS (see breakdown).
Actors should come prepared to sing a brief musical theater selection from their repertoire, and play a brief selection on their instrument which demonstrates their musical ability. Please bring your headshot and resume stapled together.
Ripley-Grier Studios (520)
520 8th Ave
New York, NY 10018-6507
Holding room: Studio 17B; Audition room: 17C
Producer: Prospect Theater Company Choreographer: Christine O’Grady
Music Director: Ben Moss
Managing Director / Producer Contact: Melissa Huber
EXPECTED TO ATTEND:
Director / Co-Bookwriter: Cara Reichel Producing Artistic Assistant / Casting Assistant: Kate Semmens
Composer / Lyricist / Co-Bookwriter: Peter Mills
Rehearsals will begin April 22, 2024 at 520 8th Avenue, ARTNY Studios, 3rd fl.
OTHER
Performances will take place in Washington, DC at the Terrace Theater in the Kennedy Center (May 7 only) and at Symphony Space in NYC (May 12 only).
This project is based in NYC but will require travel to Washington, DC for performance and tech, from May 5 – 8 (hotel, travel, and meals / per diem provided.) This is a 3-week contract for actors, April 22 – May 12.
EPA Procedures are in effect for this audition. An Equity Monitor will be provided.
Equity’s contracts prohibit discrimination.
Equity is committed to diversity and encourages all its employers to engage in a policy of equal employment opportunity designed to promote a positive model of inclusion. As such, Equity encourages performers of all ethnicities, gender identities, and ages, as well as performers with disabilities, to attend every audition.
Always bring your Equity Membership card to auditions.
THE HELLO GIRLS
SYNOPSIS:
The Hello Girls is a musical inspired by the true story of the first women soldiers to serve in the United States Army, who were bi-lingual (French / English) telephone operators during World War I. The show is framed by a contemporary ensemble of storytellers who relate the history.
When the U.S. entered WWI, General Pershing was frustrated by poor communications, and issued a recruiting call for American telephone operators who could speak French. From a pool of over 7,000 applicants, 450 women were selected and received training. Among American soldiers, they quickly became known as the “Hello Girls,” and were regarded as a crucial part of the war effort. In the spring of 1918, a first group of women were deployed overseas. From that group, a small detachment was sent on to the front — where they came under fire and served heroically. The squadron’s leader, Grace Banker, received the Distinguished Service Medal. When they returned home, the women were surprised to face a new battle when the Army refused to recognize them as veterans. It was not until 1977 that these groundbreaking women were officially recognized by the U.S. military.
CASTING NOTE:
Prospect is seeking to cast a diverse ensemble of actor-musicians who can sight read music and move well, with a high level of proficiency on one or more instruments. The orchestration includes piano/accordion, guitar, violin, cello, upright bass, clarinet, brass (trumpet, euphonium), and glockenspiel. There is some flexibility to instrument and vocal tracking.
GRACE BANKER – Female, 25. Soprano / Mix. Poised and articulate, with a core of steely strength that makes itself apparent as she grows into her role as leader. The leader of the squadron that went to the front, who received the Distinguished Service Medal. From Passaic, New Jersey. Graduated from Barnard in 1915 and worked at AT&T as a telephone operator and supervisor before joining the army. NOTE: French spoken language proficiency a plus. Does not play an instrument.
SUZANNE “THE WILDCAT” PREVÔT — Female, 24. Mezzo / Folk Belt. From New York City. Feisty, sardonic, tough talking. A close friend of Grace’s from AT&T who holds her accountable to her ideals and advocates for change. NOTE: French spoken language proficiency and guitar proficiency a plus.
LOUISE LE BRETON – Female, 18. Soprano. Born in France, from San Francisco. Fearless, flirty, headstrong and often insubordinate; she lies about her age to join the army. NOTE: French accent and spoken language proficiency a plus.
HELEN HILL – Female, 22. Mezzo. From outside Boise, Idaho. A small-town farm girl from a family of 17 children with a mother who speaks French. Sweet, over-enthusiastic, wholesomely kooky and prone to nervous panic. NOTE: French spoken language proficiency a plus.
BERTHA HUNT – Female, 33. Alto. From San Francisco. Married to a Navy doctor who is also serving abroad. Older, wiser, reliable – The Den Mother. Extremely knowledgeable about military matters. French spoken language proficiency a plus.
CAPTAIN JOSEPH W. RISER – Male, 30-35. Baritone. The Signal Corps commanding officer who recruits and trains the women, and journeys with them to the front. A career army man, a stickler for rules and order, he is skeptical of the women’s presence in the army, even as his own success relies on theirs. He develops a close working relationship with Grace.
LIEUTENANT ERNEST WESSEN & OTHERS – Male, 20s-30s. Tenor. Head of the American recruiting center for the Signal Corps. Doubles various other servicemen.
PRIVATE EUGENE MATTERSON & OTHERS – Male, 20s-30s. Tenor. An enlisted man for the Signal Corps, who works closely with Lt. Riser. Doubles various other servicemen.
PRIVATE ROBERT DEMPSEY & OTHERS – Male, 20s – 30s. Baritone. A Signal Corps operator at the central Paris Telephone Exchange. Doubles various other servicemen and character roles.
GENERAL JOHN PERSHING & OTHERS – Male, 50s. Baritone. Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces. Hard, relentless, inflexible, with a deep sense of honor and American individualism and identity – but also cares deeply about the troops serving under his command.
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